great expectations.

last weekend we were invited to a party at a friend’s home.

they had a face painter, a balloon…ist? ballooner? err…a gal making things with balloons. and…

they.
had.
a.
PONY.

gigi is a bit horse obsessed. it’s been a dream to ride one for a long, looonnnnggg time. and we told her there would be a pony and the party for rides.

when we pulled up to the party kids were already riding (of course we were fashionably late).

“did you see that pony, gigi?”

“yes! it’s so…REAL!”
apparently she thought it was pretend pony rides? (phony pony? hahahahahaha gigglesnort)

so she waited her turn…

and fulfilled a dream.

two turns around the yard and this was the face we got:

sometimes our dreams are better as dreams. the reality doesn’t always fulfill expectations.
when she was done she took off for the backyard swingset. i asked if she wanted another ride before the pony went home? no, daddy will buy me a pony later.

miss elliot was content to give the pony a quick pet—riding wasn’t really her speed.

so we tried the face painting.

THAT, at least, lived up to expectations.

seeing herself:

and her sister’s reaction was priceless:

add in one pair of balloon butterfly wings, and you have one happy—if slightly manic and creepy looking—butterfly princess.

even the biggest got in on the action—transitioning to adult, but still not too big for face painting.

i love that.

okay, so yeah—i would have gotten my own face painted. but i let all the kids go first, and then she packed up before i realized it. :( boo.

matching elmo balloon hats.

expectations fulfilled: good times and good memories ;)